Chloë Bailey has responded to the backlash she’s received in the wake of her raunchy Swarm sex scene with co-star Damson Idris.
Bailey, who plays the role of Marissa Jackson in Donald Glover’s new psychological-horror series, engaged in an intimate scene with the Snowfall actor, who plays her boyfriend Khalid, in the first few minutes of the show’s first episode.
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Many viewers found the scene to be graphic and unnecessary, and took to Twitter to criticize Bailey’s career decisions in the wake of her recent controversial musical collaboration with Chris Brown.
Chloë Bailey stopped by Big Boy TV to set the record straight, and said she was a bit confused as to why people were so upset with the scene. She also mentioned that fans seemed upset that her figure was on display more than Damson’s via a bedroom mirror, but again mostly expressed confusion.
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“I’m an actress and I feel like it’s about art and when I first received the script, I was just *gasps* it was just insane and gorgeous and I think people were actually forgetting the plot of that scene,” Bailey said at the 16 minute mark. “It’s not about seeing me in the mirror of that scene, but I think because it’s me doing it that’s what kinda makes it blow out of proportion, but I’m barely seen for two seconds in that.”
She continued: “I’m an actress. I was doing my job and people kinda gotta remember I’m an adult and I’m an artist and nothing was seen that they haven’t seen from me.”
The 24-year-old went on to say that the point of that scene was to show the tension between Khalid and Marissa’s sister, Dre (Dominique Fishback), who was knowingly watching the pair have sex from the doorway, but perhaps viewers must not have picked up on that.
The drama comes after Chloe Bailey experienced swift backlash for working with Chris Brown on her new song “How Does It Feel” due to the singer’s history of domestic violence.
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“We’re failing Black women in music if they feel like they have to collaborate with a known abuser in order to chart,” one person tweeted before listing off numerous other male R&B singers she could have worked with, including Bryson Tiller,Lucky Daye and Brent Faiyaz.
“We will absolutely not be streaming,” another person wrote. “Catch you next time though.”
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Most notably, 3LW and Cheetah Girls singer Kiely Williams criticized Brown directly, accusing him of being a woman abuser.
“let him come out with his own record – so genius so captivating that it makes us all forget HE BEATS WOMEN. He can’t so we won’t. So what does he do?” Williams wrote on Twitter. “He slowly creeps back into the mainstream by getting small nods for features on Black Women’s merit.”
She added: “Black women who are more talented, more worthy, but give him the okay. I am swatting the fucking air rn. Garbage.”
Brown fired back at critics and specifically Williams, clowning the singer’s gap tooth while quoting her 2000 3LW song “No More (Baby I’Ma Do Right).”
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“I’m kinda getting tired of your broken PROMITHIS of ya broken PROMITHIS PROMITHIS,” Breezy wrote on his Instagram Story. “Obviously you are at a point in your life where either you are broke or broken…..the FACT you think you have to speak negatively about me makes you look so lame….YOUR LIFE AND CAREER MUST SUCK RIGHT NOW.”
“How Does It Feel” will appear on Chloe Bailey’s highly anticipated debut solo album In Pieces, which drops Friday (March 31). Future and Missy Elliott are also set to appear on the project.
